the future of work: home, office or hybrid?

Around the world, the workplace experienced a huge cultural shift during the pandemic as organisations were forced to adapt to the ‘new normal’ of working from home. When the lockdowns were eventually lifted, the new WFH arrangement remained in place for some roles, while other positions required a return to the office full-time or a newfangled ‘hybrid’ setup.

As a recruiter, I was interested in finding out how people feel about these three modes of working now that the dust has settled a few years after COVID. I feel it’s important for OXBO as a recruitment company to be conscious of trends and preferences in this area, as it will enable us to better understand the needs and priorities of both our clients and candidates. So, on OXBO’s LinkedIn page, we recently conducted a poll asking, “What’s your preferred way to work?”

We had around 250 responses, and the results were enlightening: 37% of respondents preferred working from home five days a week, a mere 3% favoured the office full time, and a significant majority of 60% opted for hybrid working. In this blog, I share my thoughts on these results as well as some findings from other surveys, I discuss each of the three working modes in detail, and I attempt to answer the question: what does it all mean for employers?

The case for home working

It’s safe to say that working from home has become a cornerstone of modern employment, offering flexibility and autonomy. Prior to the pandemic, the vast majority of full-time roles were purely office-based, and although the WFH and hybrid approaches did exist pre-COVID, I don’t think anyone could have predicted the seismic shift in workplace attitudes that would follow. According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the number of people working from home in the UK more than doubled between 2019 and 2022, rising from 4.7 million to 9.9 million. Although definitely triggered by the pandemic initially, the scale of the shift was also helped along by technological advancements and changing employee expectations.

Benefits of home working:

1. Increased productivity: A study by Buffer found that 91% of remote workers have a positive view of working from home, citing fewer distractions and more control over their schedules. This is an interesting stat, as it flies in the face of many people’s presumption pre-lockdown that staff would be easily distracted or unmotivated when working from home.
   
   
2. Cost savings: Remote work is definitely a win–win for employees and employers alike. Employees can reduce their daily commuting expenses, leading to greater personal financial well-being, while their employers enjoy substantial overhead reductions, including lower office space costs and utilities. In an ONS survey in 2021, nearly half (49.1%) of businesses reported their intention to implement home working as a permanent cost-saving strategy.
   
   
3. Improved work-life balance: Home working allows employees to better manage personal and professional responsibilities, contributing to higher job satisfaction and enhanced wellbeing. As Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg put it, “People are more productive working at home than people would have expected. Some thought everything would fall apart, and it hasn’t.” At OXBO, we’re mindful of the relationship between happiness and productivity, a subject we plan to cover in more detail in another blog post.
   
   

The case for office working

While home working has its obvious appeals, the office remains a vital space for collaboration, innovation and the human need for face-to-face social interaction. This is supported by the ONS report in May 2023, which revealed that nearly three-quarters of UK employees had returned to the office at least part-time.

Benefits of office working:

1. Collaboration and creativity: Offices provide a structured environment conducive to brainstorming and teamwork. EY found that organisational culture thrives in physical spaces, enhancing productivity and employee retention.
   
   
2. Access to resources: Offices tend to be equipped with superior technology and ergonomic furniture compared to most home-working setups, which naturally creates an optimal work environment.
   
   
3. Clear work-life separation: Being in an office helps employees leave their personal life and the distractions that come with it at home, and it allows them to mentally “clock out” at the end of the day, reducing burnout.
   
   

The rise of hybrid working

The hybrid model, the winner in our poll, combines the best of both worlds. As of late 2024, 27% of UK employees were working in a hybrid arrangement, according to a recent ONS survey, and the benefits highlighted below show why it’s become such a popular option.

Benefits of hybrid working:

1. Flexibility: Employees in a hybrid role can customise their schedules, combining productive remote work with collaborative in-office tasks to better meet their needs while improving their work–life balance.
   
   
2. Talent attraction and retention: By offering a hybrid model, businesses can tap into a broader talent pool, as noted by HubSpot’s Chief People Officer Katie Burke: “If you are not limited by a specific office location, you can look anywhere in the country or the globe.”
   
   
3. Enhanced well-being: Hybrid working allows employees to enjoy the benefits of both environments, which results in a healthier work–life balance and happier, more productive employees.
   
   

What does this mean for employers?

As recruitment specialists in the tech and renewables spaces, OXBO understand the importance of aligning workplace policies with employee preferences. Offering flexible working arrangements can be a powerful tool for attracting top talent in competitive industries, and while it inherently suits some roles more than others in practical terms, employers should continue to analyse this aspect of their business and listen to their people – not only to maximise staff retention but also to ensure that future candidates perceive them as a forward-thinking, flexible organisation that accommodates and cares for its people.

Employers should also consider the following:

• Invest in technology: Whether its employees are working remotely or in the office, ensure that they have the tools they need to work most effectively, from the latest AI innovations to secure communication platforms and efficient project management software.
  
• Foster a strong culture: Use office days for team-building activities and collaborative projects that strengthen relationships, enhance communication and align everyone towards shared goals.
  
• Listen to employees: Regular surveys and polls can help gauge employee satisfaction and adapt policies accordingly, ensuring a more engaged, motivated and productive workforce.
  

Conclusion

In 2025, the pandemic feels like a distant memory, but the debate between home working, office working and hybrid models is far from settled. However, our LinkedIn poll clearly indicates that flexibility is no longer a perk but a necessity. Interestingly, while the majority of people in the UK still work in office-based roles, only 3% in our poll favoured this model.

Of course, we shouldn’t be surprised that the majority of professionals prefer a hybrid approach. Humans thrive when they achieve a good balance, and blending the autonomy and the relaxed vibe of home working with the collaborative, social benefits of the office is always going to lead to healthier, happier workers.  

For employers, the challenge lies in creating a work environment that meets diverse needs while maintaining productivity and engagement. By embracing flexibility and leveraging insights like those from our poll, companies can position themselves as employers of choice in the ever-evolving world of work.

Tim Hall is the Co-Founder of OXBO and Headhunter and Recruitment Partner for Renewables.

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April 14, 2025